61/150: Some caterpillars love to eat insects!

When thinking of a typical caterpillar, you may picture one happily munching away on leaves. Not all caterpillars, however, feed on plants. The caterpillars of the harvester butterfly (Feniseca tarquinius) are actually insectivorous, meaning they feed on insects. This is the only species of butterfly in North America that feeds this way. They typically eat aphids or other true bugs such as scale insects. The female butterflies purposefully lay their eggs in or near colonies of aphids so that when the eggs hatch the caterpillars are right at their food source. To protect themselves from predators, such as ants, the caterpillars will often cover themselves in the carcasses of the aphids they have eaten. There are 162 barcodes for the harvester on BOLD. #Canada150 #Biodiversity150

The Orange Sea Cucumber (Cucumaria miniata) is easily recognizable by its distinct orange pigment. This radiant colouration is the result of the pigment created by cinnabar or vermilion. Sea cucumbers are related to sea stars and sea urchins, they are all from the phylum Echinodermata, which feature radial symmetry and tube feet. Underwater, this creature displays its oral tentacles in the form of a bush for feeding, while keeping the remaining parts of its body hidden between the crevices of rocks. Their tubular feet act as anchors for them to be secured in one place. When removed from the water, its tentacles and tube feet retract and they look similar to a cucumber, getting the name sea cucumber. These marine invertebrates are known as suspension feeders, where their diet consists of plankton and any detritus around their habitat. Their tentacles, which are controlled by sphincter muscles, capture their food and draw it towards its mouth where it can be consumed. #Canada150 #Biodiversity150